North Korea says US tried to initiate contact in ‘cheap trick’
Talk with rogue state have been stalled since Donald Trump’s efforts in 2019
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.North Korea has claimed the US tried to initiate renewed contact in what it dismissed as a “cheap trick.”
Top diplomat Choe Son Hui, first vice minister of foreign affairs for North Korea, said the contact would be ignored until the Biden administration dropped its hostile policies.
It is the first formal rejection of a diplomatic approach by the Biden administration since the president took office in January, according to Reuters.
“What has been heard from the US since the emergence of the new regime is only lunatic theory of ‘threat from North Korea’ and groundless rhetoric about ‘complete denuclearisation,’” Ms Choe said.
The statement came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin visited South Korea, as part of the first overseas trip for senior members of the administration.
Ms Choe said that the US had tried to make contact by sending emails and telephone messages by a variety of routes, including a third country.
Read more:
Trump tells his anti-vax supporters they should still get the Covid vaccine
Marjorie Taylor Greene demands Guam National Guard be sent home after ‘ambushing’ her office
Biden calls Putin a ‘killer’ - follow US politics live
The White House said earlier this month that it had reached out to North Korea but had received no response and gave no details on its approach.
Mr Blinken and Mr Austin are scheduled to fly from Seoul to Anchorage, Alaska, for the administration’s first talks with Chinese officials.
Attempts to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons have stalled since 2019 and the historic meetings between Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un.
Mr Trump became the first sitting president to set foot in North Korea but days before he left the White House, Kim called the US his country’s “arch-enemy.”
Mr Biden has decided to take a softer public tone towards North Korea after deciding that provoking it was counterproductive, officials have told NBC News.
Additional reporting by Reuters
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments